Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-01-13

IL. Dub bWO ltttIS lth DttSctd away
since her husbands death, and this
nineteenth-century Sappho had not
consoled herself. And then had come
the Dick lrton episode.
1t was a bright morning in June
when Captain Irton arrived at Charing
Cross Station, thoroughly tagged and
wearied by his long journey. He had
come as last as p. and o. steamers
and mail trains can bring u man from
Bombay to the Strand. But in
couple OF hours he hoped to have rid
himself of all signs of travel, to have
got inside decent coat, and to he i'll
the shady drawing-room in Park
street with Dorothy Lennox's soft
arms aronnd mis- neck. He felt very
sleepy and somewhat aggrieved, fNrhe
had nursed the unreasoning hope OF
seeing her at the station, although
she could not possibly know exactly
when he would arrive. He had started
by the very next mail from Bombay,
so that writing would have been
useless. He felt, indeed, that he had
answered her telegram in very prac-
teal fashion. How overioyed she
would be to have him back! He hoped
it would not be too much for her-see
ing him suddenly again like this. So,
throwing himself on the bed in his
room at the Grand Hotel, he fell
asleep. .s
When Dick awoke it was 3 in the
afternoon. Tubing and unpacking
took an hour, and then he had to 60
out and buy tall hat. After this he
directed the cabman to the house in
Park street.
The shady Mayfair street looked
bright and pleasant as his hanson
ratified along, the houses smartened
up for the season with new blinds, and
window-boXes full ofdaisies and spirea.
light breeze blew in his face, and "a
couple OF fair.haired girls IN pink cot
ton made a bright patch against
the grey toned houses. By love. how
awfully nice it all was after India! A
man may be very happy in London,
with n charming wife who would know
how to give littledinners, and the club,
and the theaters, and the park.
Pulling up at the house, Dicks jaw
fell. There was an awning from the
door to the curbstone, with u crowd
of nursemaids and urchins gaping on
each side. The street was full OF car
riages, too. What did it mean? Then
Dick remembered that Mrs. Lennox
gave a great many afternoon parties.
Well, it was deuced disappointing, he
said to himself, when you had come
all the way from India to see woman,
to find she was giving one OF those in
iernal kettledrums the very day you
arrive.
Inside the house there was the us
ual elbowing, well.dressed crowd that
you see any afternoon in the season
in Mayfair Boys in gray coats with
pink carnations in their buttonholes
logged old club-men in brown coats
and white gardenias. In the dining
room hook-nosed dowagers We're
soraging for ice while on the land ne
frisky matrons loitered with the tenn
porary SWANS.
On the stairs Dick met n woman he
knew, an enthusiastic girl OF 43, who
was dressed in q more juvenile garb
than when he had last seen her. Muir
mering Charmed to see you back
happy occasions" she tripped past
him.
Happy occasion, was it?' said Dick
to himself wishing his gushing ac-
quaintance and the rest OF the guests
at the bottom of the sea. 1t would
have been happier occasion still if
hecould have found his Dorothy alone
in her amber-tinted room.
When Captain triton reached the
door he could see Mrs. Lennon stand
ing in the midst OF small crowd OF
people, who all seemed to be talking at
once. By Jove, how fetching" she
looked in her silver.grey gown. with a
huge bouquet OF orchids and that grey
tulle thing she had OH her head! Was
that Il new fashion, Dick wondered,
for women to wear bonnets at their
own Eat homes?"
And there was that ass Shorthorn
close beside her, with a particularly
fatuous expression on his face. 1t
was high time he had written, Dick
thought it was high time he had come.
Why, the fellow was far Gone-over
head and ears; Dick could SEE that
by the way he appropriated Mrs. Len
noX with his eyes.
Then one OF the circle moved away,
and Dorothy turned and saw Captain
lrton at the door. She looked as If
she had seen a ghost. Coming for.
ward he took her hand, and then he
saw that something was wrong.
Without word, she motioned him
into an adjoining room, which for the
moment was empty.
Good God!' she whispered, "why
have you come now? | wired that
you We're not to come; that it was too
late. wrote, too, but you can not
have got my letter"
TOO late, Dorothy! what do you
mean? Your telegram said do not
come too late Well, started the
next day"
Poor Dick" she said at last, "what
a dreadful mistake you have made!
DO not come. Too Late was the
message ! sent. Did you not remem-
Der that there are no full stops in te-
legraphy? ] was married an hour
ago to Lord Shorthorn. Come in, and
let me introduceyou to my husband"
And this was Dick Ireton's little
mistake. There are no full-stops in
telegrapby, but when, ten minutes lat
err, Dick saw Lord and Lady Short
horn drive of amid showers OF rice
and slippers, he knew that he had had
a moral full-stop which he would re-
member all his life.